Recarey was head of International Medical Centers, a Medicare-certified health maintenance organization. He is accused of diverting about $200 million in Medicare claims.

Recarey fled to avoid prosecution, and now lives in Spain, which has refused to extradite him.

Bush, who was the Republican nominee for governor last year, worked with Recarey on a real estate deal, but has denied using any influence to help Recarey's medical firm. He said he did not recall speaking to Heckler about the case, but did call a lower HHS official "requesting that IMC be given a fair hearing."